The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 144

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 144

Every time I deal with Lu, I painfully realize how poor I am with words.

Among all those times, today especially I felt such great shock that my mind became dizzy.

‘How, how can he say such… embarrassing words so casually?’

It’s not that I find it strange. The time when I looked at Lu with such eyes has already passed.

It’s just that Lu, who honestly reveals his feelings, seems amazing to me. To the point where I feel like a coward myself.

Honesty inevitably reveals a person’s weaknesses. That’s why I thought it was right to hide my own emotions, even to protect myself. If I only showed emotions that were favorable to me, it would be hard for others to judge me hastily.

Even when Lu showed his most evasive attitude, the reason I couldn’t grab him by the collar and shout ‘Tell me your true feelings!’ was… to some extent because I understood that feeling.

I was certain of that.

“Daisy. You won’t die from your heart bursting, will you?”

I pushed away Lu’s face as he whispered playfully with his ear against my chest.

What good does it do to hide emotions?

When I can’t hide my heartbeat!

“If you like me that much, then stay by my side! If you didn’t go to Kalerpa, where on earth did you go?”

“Astrosia Kingdom.”

“…You went to such a distant place?”

“I secretly searched through old forbidden books about resurrection experiments. Though they were only records from 150 years ago at most.”

I felt my body temperature, which had been slightly heated with excitement, gradually cooling down.

I adjusted my posture (though it was just pressing our bodies closer together) and asked Lu.

“What did you confirm?”

“The full story of the resurrection experiments, literally. To put it simply, should I call them demons?”

Demons?

For a moment, one famous hypothesis flashed through my mind. Could it be.

“You who participated in the Mage War for 10 years might have already noticed. Demons are not created beings. To be precise, they’re rearranged beings. Undead made by recycling human corpses.”

So that’s how it was.

The hypothesis that demons are transformed humans is one of the most widely spread theories even among ordinary people. Perhaps because of that, the truth Lu revealed wasn’t entirely surprising.

“The origin isn’t that distant. The first records of demons begin with the Loqwe Church civil war that occurred in the Northern Continent 150 years ago. At that time, Loqwe was using Astrosia Kingdom as a stage for massive resurrection experiments.”

Though his tone was matter-of-fact, the content it conveyed was as horrific as the Mage War.

“According to records, several corpses that failed the resurrection experiments moved as if they were alive. The revived corpses possessed very low intelligence and followed the will of the magic used as experimental energy. In other words… they could create an army made of corpses, an army of demons.”

“…”

“Loqwe dreamed of continental unification with their demon army, but they failed. They got crushed by me. Afterwards, all records related to resurrection experiments were designated as forbidden books and disposed of.”

“Then Mephistopheles is…?”

“He must have obtained those forbidden books somewhere and raised an army. Originally it would have been resurrection experiments to overcome the wall, but… desires endlessly fatten themselves.”

Suddenly, the appearance of demons I had faced countless times during the war came to mind.

Melted flesh and the stench that assaulted my nose. Yes, they were all traces of the dead. We had been fighting dead people. Those who had been someone’s family, lovers, and friends.

…Then, had I committed massacre?

I took a deep breath and clenched my fists.

‘Don’t waver. I shouldn’t think too deeply. Whether the act of cutting down demons was a sin or not isn’t something I can judge right now.’

So now I must do what I can. That’s all.

I steadied my mind and looked at Lu. Did he glimpse my resolve in our meeting gazes? Lu, who lightly nodded, grabbed my hand and pulled it.

Then he thrust my fingertips deep into the wound on his shoulder. A chilling sensation of penetrating flesh was transmitted. I gasped and struggled.

“What is this…!”

“Remember this, Daisy. This energy is exactly Mephistopheles’ power. The source of energy that controls demons.”

Instantly, I stopped my violently resisting movements. And I concentrated all my attention on the faintly felt power fluctuations.

‘This is… Mephistopheles’ power.’

Unpleasant but strangely familiar. It must be because it’s the power of the enemy who killed me.

Only then did I understand Lu’s intention for enduring such a deep wound at the hunting festival. It was to reveal the source of energy that controls demons and make me feel that energy.

‘And this wound was made by the demon from the hunting festival.’

The demon from the hunting festival.

Mephistopheles’ energy emanating from the wound that demon made.

‘Those demons yesterday. They really were demons born from Mephistopheles’ heart.’

They were indeed demons created by the Imperial Court. Then those corpses… could they be the comrades that Berid Ret collected?

“There’s no act more inefficient than worrying and fretting about unconfirmed matters in advance.”

It was Lu’s voice. As if he could see right through me, he warned in a straight and certain voice.

“If your concentration becomes clouded by needless worry, even your judgment deteriorates. You know that best yourself, Daisy. Don’t you?”

“…That’s right.”

Let’s not waver.

I repeated Lu’s advice to myself and blankly looked up at the clock.

The time remaining until the banquet’s start was barely an hour or so. It was time to execute the scheduled plan.

“Lu, if it’s alright, there’s a place I’d like you to come with me.”

Lu nodded without even asking where that place was.

I left the town house with Lu and got into a carriage. The downtown area was packed with people enjoying the hunting festival, leaving no room to step, so our carriage moved rather slowly.

After about 15 minutes, the place we arrived at was in front of the Grand Theater.

Befitting the Grand Theater located in the heart of the capital’s downtown, both the exterior and interior were as clean as if they had just been completed yesterday.

Who owns this theater? I don’t know. I simply paid an appropriate price through the Weatherwax Baroness and rented it.

“…Aren’t you going to ask where we are?”

“The theater sign is hanging right in front of the building.”

“I meant why aren’t you asking why we came to such a place.”

“You must have a reason.”

I know it’s consideration for me, but somehow at this moment, that consideration felt hateful.

Or not? Should I rather consider it fortunate? They say if you have no expectations, you have no disappointments.

“We’ve been waiting for you, Baroness Weatherwax. I’ll guide you inside.”

The assistant manager guided us to Ragal’s largest opera theater. After the heavy doors closed, I went up onto the stage with Lu.

The view of the empty audience seats from the stage felt very unsettling and unfamiliar to me.

But that doesn’t mean I can undo what I’ve already done.

“Ahem.”

At this moment, like Lu had done, I too wanted to be honest about my feelings.

“Please think of this place… as a ballroom.”

Lu’s eyes narrowed.

He seemed completely unable to predict what intention I had for bringing him to such a place. So even Lu has things he can’t notice. I newly realized just how sudden and rude my actions were.

“Of course I know it’s difficult. How could a mere theater stage compare to a ball held at the Imperial Palace? There are no chandeliers, no songs, no food.”

No, no. Let’s not disparage this place too much. What more does it do than smear dirt on my face?

This place was my best preparation, and most importantly, it wasn’t the space we were standing in that mattered.

“…But I wanted to have my first dance with you. That’s why I came here.”

I came here to dance.

With none other than Lu.

The first dance that’s said to be most meaningful at a banquet.

“Actually, my first dance partner for the hunting festival banquet has already been decided. If plans don’t change, it will be with Duke Raphael Jenail.”

I didn’t have the courage to look directly at Lu’s face, so I continued while dropping my gaze diagonally.

“I don’t really care about the meaning of first dances and such. I’m not interested in how I appear in others’ eyes. Such things were among the most useless elements in my life.”

“…”

“But when I thought that those others might include Lu, my mind changed. I don’t know about others… but I hate the idea of Lu misunderstanding.”

I don’t know how much time is permitted to me.

So I want to be happy when I can be happy.

Also, I can say with certainty that this man is necessary for my happiness.

Lu, who had been standing at the front of the stage, slowly moved his steps. Even knowing he wouldn’t, my heart beat frantically, wondering if he might laugh at my words.

His black shoes stopped in front of me, and soon his white hand came down, gently asking for permission.

“Would you grant me the honor of having the first dance with you, Lady Weatherwax?”

I don’t know with what state of mind I accepted.

Before I knew it, his hand was around my waist, and my hand was touching his chest.

“When dancing, you should look at your partner’s face.”

I lifted my head very carefully.

My partner for the first dance was no longer Count Sereniye. It was Lu.

Lu was smiling.

The moment he took his first step, smiling beautifully as if he possessed everything in the world, the impossible sound of a ballroom orchestra began.

As music filled the quiet space, the darkness of the empty theater retreated far away, and pearl-colored moonlight fell from the ceiling.

The solid wooden floor occasionally transformed into a sandy beach. But our feet didn’t sink helplessly into it. He and I stepped on sand, strolled over waves, and danced on the pure white, crashing sea. The familiar colorful Milky Way I had seen on Quin Island spread across the sky. The night sky we had looked up at together…

Before I knew it, I was smiling so widely that the corners of my mouth ached. In contrast, Lu had a noticeably calmer atmosphere than before.

I asked him.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“I’m thinking it was good that I didn’t go to Calepa after all.”

“…I’m worried. You said it yourself. If you don’t rest in Calepa, the scales will tip.”

“That’s right. But the more the scales tip, the more clearly I can see your face. And unnecessary thoughts increase too. Having a complicated mind isn’t exactly pleasant. Strangely, it’s not entirely bad either.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Probably. But aren’t you going to ask what kind of thoughts they are?”

“Do I have to ask? You’ll just say something that makes me uncomfortable again. Ah, that hurts! Where are you biting!”

“Your finger. You’re big enough already, so what are you eating to be so cute?”

“You’re the only one who calls me cute!”

“Of course it should be that way. Who else are you trying to look cute for? Liwein Wokhood? Or Raphael Jenail?”

“Why do those names keep coming up? Lu, do you really like me that much?”

“Of course. Ah. Speaking of which, I just realized something new about how I think of you.”

“What ridiculous thing are you going to say now?”

“When I look at you, my teeth itch.”

“What?”

“I want to bite and chew you up and swallow you. Is it because you’re weak? My stomach would be safer than this harsh world.”

“I’m not weak.”

“You are weak. You’re weak, so I’m anxious. When I look at you, my teeth itch, my mind gets complicated, everything becomes inefficient…”

“…”

“I want to lock you inside me forever. So that only I can see your face when you’re embarrassed and don’t know what to do, and your expression when you’re afraid of being rejected.”

“…”

“If you die and leave me like this, I’ll chew up and swallow all your limbs.”

“…”

“This kind of desire couldn’t possibly be love, could it, Daisy?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————